Dynamic interaction between beta cells, antigens and immune system cells in type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the result of autoimmune-mediated loss of insuling secreting beta cells in the islets of Langerhand in the pancreas. The development of T1D is believed to be due to a combination of genetic as well as environmental factors. During the last 20 years, studies addressing the mechanism of T1D have focused mainly on the role of T lymphocytes in desease meachnisms. However, a number of recent observations have suggested a role for the innate immune system in promoting T-lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune reactions in T1D in animal models of the disease. Identification of new mechanisms of action of innate immune cells which triggers inflammation and destruction of beta cells, could potentially lead to the design of new therapeutic intervention strategies in the process of autoimmune diabetes. Accordingly, the purpose of the current work is to characterize the role of the innate immune system, more specifically, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and natural killer cells to initiate immune reactions against islet cells of the pancreas in animal models of T1D and to verify whether natural immune modulators such as active vitamin D - which influence both innate as well as adaptive immune responses - could interfere with this dynamic interaction.

Keywords:Macrophage, Type 1 diabetes, Inflammation, Innate immunity, Dendritic cell, Beta cells

Disciplines:Endocrinology and metabolic diseases, Immunology